CarletonOats (1965-1972)
Sure, we could have went with Williams here, as he had some solid seasons in the Silver and Black, but when it comes to the all-time best player to wear No. 85, Carleton Oats has to be the choice. A 21st round pick of the team back in 1964, Oats would become a mainstay on some outstanding Raiders defenses, cementing his mark on the franchise’s history.
A few years back, Mike Tanier from Bleacher Report listed the Raiders 1967 defense as the No. 19-best in history. That unit, affectionately known as “11 Angry Men” terrorized the opposition, helping the Raiders to a 13-1 record, an AFL Championship, and a berth in Super Bowl II.
Known for his ability to jump over offensive linemen, Oats played with the Raiders from 1965 through 1972, and notched three fumble recoveries, and a touchdown. Back then, stats like tackles and sacks were not counted, but if they were, I am sure his stat sheet would be filled.
Oats finished out his career with the Green Bay Packers, last appearing in an NFL game in 1973. For a four-year stretch, Oats was an everyday starter along a Raiders defensive line that won 40 games, appeared in the playoffs on a yearly basis, and established themselves as the gold standard in the AFL.